Welcome address of Igor Nikolaevich Slyunyaev, Russia’s Minister of Regional Development

It is my pleasure to greet the organizers, participants and guests of the second Central Russian Economic Forum!

Within a short period of time, the Forum has become one of the leading venues for handling social and economic development issues of Central Russia’s regions. Benefiting from advanced research and production capacities, valuable human capital assets and extensive resources, these regions are setting the tone in pinpointing economy modernization and social sphere development trends.

This year, your objective is to consider relevant issues of improving the business climate, developing the domestic market and boosting the competitive edge of traditional economy sectors after Russia’s accession to the WTO. To a large extent, whether the government’s strategic objective of accelerating the economy growth rate and improving the living standards of our citizens will be achieved depends on the solutions to be worked out in this respect.

May I wish the participants and guests of the Central Russian Economic Forum interesting meetings, productive discussions, fruitful and successful work!

Minister of Regional Development of the Russian Federation
I.N. Slyunyayev